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Hello today I will introduce a submarine/ship hunter for Japan, the Kawasaki P-1!
Short History
With it large amount of P-3Cs that have been in service for some time, Japan was looking for a replacement something that would exceed the P-3Cs capabilities, while offers such as the P-8 and Nimrod MR2s were made but Japan did not see them as suitable candidates and decided to focus on development for a domestic maritime patrol aircraft which started in 2001. By September of 2007 the P-1 made its first flight and officially entered service in 2013 they are currently replacing remaining P-3Cs. Unlike most aircraft of the type which are usually civilian commercial/transport aircraft the P-1 was built from the ground up for maritime patrol.
Powerplant
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The P-1 feature domestic IHI F7-10 high bypass turbofan engines built specifically for the P-1, metals alloys used are corrosion resistant to environments with high salt levels perfect for ocean operations.
the engines are also more quieter by 5 to 10 dB below the P-3C Allison T-56-A-14 turboprops. Each engine delivers a maximum thrust of 60 kN or 13500 lbs.
Avionics
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The cockpit is essentially an all glass cockpit having large MFDs and even Huds, P-1 also features large windows for better visibility. The P-1 is also the first aircraft in the world to use a Fly-By-Light system which flight control commands are transmitted via optical fibre to the actuators this helps decreases the risk of electromagnetic interference and reducing the weight of the installed wiring and reduce power consumption, the system also helps make The P-1 extremely stable and responsive.
Radars/system/sensors
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The P-1 is equipped with four HPS-106 AESA radars the main one at the nose, two on each side of the nose and one on the tail on the bottom which gives the P-1 a 360° radar coverage. some of the modes for the radar are surface search, air search, navigational and meteorological, synthetic aperture and inverse synthetic aperture. An inverse synthetic aperture radar utilizes the motion of the target to create a high resolution 2D image that can allow for threat identification.
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P-1 also has a built in flir/nav system called the HAQ-2 EO/IR it is used for tracking and examining surface targets. the system is a ball like turret under the aircraft which can be retracted into the aircraft when not in use. It features thermal imaging, night vision and navigation and can take images.
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Another important sensor is the HSQ-102 magnetic anomaly detector or “MAD” it is a system used for finding and detecting submarines. Along with this sonar, other systems and a large complement of sonobuoys help with ASW duties.
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IFF antennas on the P-1 for friend or foe identification. P-1 also features a HLR-109B ESM system which detects and classifies enemy radar emissions and gives the P-1 a secondary role as an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance ( ISR ) platform. Which means the P-1 in War thunder could be able to scout and ping enemies for friendly units.
Defense
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The P-1 has a HLQ-9 self-protection suite which include the AN/AAR-60 MAWS two located at the nose and two aft near the tail, ECM, RWR, and countermeasures which include six total dispensers three on each side, four of them are for flares and two are chaff the system is the AN/ALE-47 countermeasures in total that is 120 flares and 60 chaff.
Weapons
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The P-1 has a large amount of weapons it can carry in total 16 hardpoints, 8 external on the wing and wing roots, and 8 in its “Bomb bay”. that being said the bays true capabilities are kept secret since Japan is technically not allowed to have bombers so it is unknown how many torpedos, depth charges etc it can carry inside. On the outside however it can carry up to 8 ASM-1C, an air launched version of the Type 12 SSM, Harpoon, and AGM-65s, in the bay it can carry Type 12 torpedos, Type 97, MK 46 torpedo and carry the Type 67 150 kg depth charge which can be used to detonate on the surface which is probably why the amount of weapons the bay can truly hold is kept secret but it should be a good amount.
In Game
In War Thunder the P-1 would be a very advance aircraft to help destroy naval targets due to large amounts of ASMs it has, if submarines are added one day it would also perform well in that role. but with weapons such as the Type 67 150 kg depth charge and AGM-65s it might be able to deal with ground targets in a limited fashion. however naval will be where it belongs, other things it can do is scout targets and be able to ping them on the map for all allies to see. Its other systems like the radar, Flir, ECM, ESM, etc would also be helpful in GB to also spot them and jam radars.
Specifications
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General characteristics
- Crew: Can vary from 8-13
- Length: 38 m (124 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 35.4 m (116 ft 2 in)
- Height: 12.1 m (39 ft 8 in)
- Max takeoff weight: 79,700 kg (175,708 lb)
- Powerplant: 4 × IHI Corporation F7
Performance
- Maximum speed: 996 km/h (619 mph, 538 kn)
- Cruise speed: 833 km/h (518 mph, 450 kn)
- Range: 8,000 km (5,000 mi, 4,300 nmi)
- Combat range: 2,500 km (1,600 mi, 1,300 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 13,520 m (44,360 ft)
Armament
- Hardpoints:8 (2x on each wing and 2x on each wing root) and eight internal bomb bay stations with a capacity of 9,000 kg (19,842 lb) +, with provisions to carry combinations of:
Missiles:
- 8 AGM-84 Harpoon
- 8 ASM-1C
- 8 Type 12 ASM Improved
- 8 AGM-65 Maverick
Weapons bay:
- Mk 46 torpedo
- Type 97 torpedo
- Type 12 torpedo
- Can carry additional ASMs possibly 2 more
- Type 67 150 kg depth charge
Sources
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Kawasaki P-1 MPA
NAVAL FORCES 05/2017
https://www.baesystems.com/en-media/uploadFile/20210404043052/1434554720811.pdf
https://www.baesystems.com/en/product/ale47-airborne-countermeasures-dispenser-system
https://global.kawasaki.com/en/mobility/air/aircrafts/p_1.html
Full Frame: Kawasaki P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft : Japan's Brand New Submarine Hunter
